21 Quick Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights
These 21 quick and delicious dinner recipes are quick, easy, and always delicious – just what weeknight dinners need! Whether you’re craving comforting pasta, hearty soups, or flavorful stir-fries, these recipes are designed to simplify your evening routine without skimping on taste.
Pepper Steak Stir Fry
This easy pepper and steak stir fry recipe, comes together in just 30 minutes and it’s better than takeout! It’s got everything I look for in a meal (from both a nutrition and an enjoyment standpoint): carbs, veggies, protein, and FLAVOR!
Get the Recipe: Pepper Steak Stir Fry.
Crispy Baked Quesadillas
These baked quesadillas are easy and cheesy with plenty of tender chicken tucked between crispy baked shells. It’s a great way to make quesadillas for a crowd as you no longer need to babysit the stove! The recipe calls for chicken, but you could swap it for cooked ground beef, black beans, or fajita veggies instead if desired.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Baked Quesadillas.
Easy Udon Noodles
Save your time and money on a busy weeknight. These easy udon noodles taste even better than takeout! Made with snow peas, broccoli, and peppers, this pan-fried noodle dish is loaded with veggies and flavor. Naturally vegetarian, you could add some protein like chicken, shrimp, or tofu if desired.
Get the Recipe: Easy Udon Noodles.
Turkey Tacos
Ground turkey is seasoned with a mix of spices and simmered with salsa to add another layer of flavor for juicy and delicious taco meat every time. Stuff into tortillas and add your favorite fresh toppings. This turkey taco recipe is quick and easy to make, made with simple ingredients, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Tacos.
Cheesy Boursin Pasta
This is the best cheesy pasta and it’s made with just a few ingredients. Creamy Boursin cheese is the base of this simple sauce and has the smoothest creamy texture. Simply cook the pasta, and whip up the sauce with some sliced garlic, Boursin, and pasta water. Serve with a simple green salad and breadsticks for an utterly delicious meal.
Get the Recipe: Boursin Cheese Pasta.
Sausage Breakfast Burritos
Treat everyone to these delicious sausage breakfast burritos. They’re really tasty, and you can customize the fillings and toppings.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Breakfast Burritos.
Dumpling Soup
Save your money and skip the takeout because you can make this delicious and easy dumpling soup at home in just 15 minutes. Frozen dumplings cook in a garlic and ginger broth and spinach wilts in the last few minutes of cooking for a light, but satisfying soup. Top with chili crisp oil and sesame oil for more flavor.
Get the Recipe: Dumpling Soup.
Cheesy Turkey Taco Skillet
Taco night has never been so tasty! This dish is as easy as can be and is loaded with cheesy ground turkey, black beans, corn, and plenty of taco toppings to make a one-dish meal that can fill up a hungry family. You can have this quick meal on the table in just about 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Turkey Taco Skillet.
White Bean Chili
This nutritious chili is loaded with flavor (lime, cilantro, spices!), a great source of protein and fiber (beans, corn!), and it’s made with simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry (broth, onion, garlic). Serve the vegetarian white chili with a ton of toppings and you’ve got a delicious, nutritious, and cozy meal. Naturally vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian White Bean Chili.
Dinner-Worthy Snack Board
Who says you can’t have a mini charcuterie board for dinner? This snack board has such a delicious assortment of deli meats, cheese, fresh fruit, and veggies. It has all of the variety we look for in a meal, with minimal prep.
Get the Recipe: Dinner Worthy Snack Board.
Shrimp Fajitas
Not only is this meal nutritious and delicious, but it’s also totally easy to make, making it a great option for weeknight dinners. Shrimp is seasoned with a homemade fajita seasoning blend and cooks with bell peppers, onions, and garlic for maximum flavor. Put out a bunch of fresh toppings like lettuce, pico de Gallo, and sour cream, and let everyone build their own fajita.
Get the Recipe: Easy Shrimp Fajitas.
Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
This Italian dish seems a little complicated, but it’s really quite simple. Use high-quality butter, cheese, and pasta for this dish, as it’s about all that’s in it! It’s easy enough for a quick dinner but nice enough to turn it into a date night meal, too.
Get the Recipe: Bucatini Cacio e Pepe.
Shrimp Quesadillas
You can make these tasty quesadillas in just 20 minutes! Shrimp cooks in mere minutes, which makes it a great weeknight protein option. The toasted tortillas have layers of melty cheese and succulent spiced shrimp. This easy dinner delivers great flavors in each bite.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Quesadillas.
Turkey Pesto Panini
This recipe is inspired by a Starbucks panini, but we’ve added a lot more fillings for even more flavor. It comes together quickly thanks to deli turkey and has tons of flavor, thanks to the pesto and cheese. Serve with fries, chips or a fruit cup.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pesto Panini.
Penne Pomodoro
If you have 25 minutes, you can make this incredibly easy and tasty homemade pomodoro sauce. This quick and easy dinner is perfect for busy weeknights and it has so much flavor that it’s hard to believe that it’s ready in just 30 minutes. This sauce uses high-quality ingredients and lets the classic Italian flavors shine in the best way possible.
Get the Recipe: Penne Pomodoro.
Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla
If you like buffalo chicken this recipe is for you! This buffalo chicken quesadilla is incredibly easy to make, and it has so much flavor with layers of buffalo chicken, sautéed veggies, and plenty of cheese. Serve with plenty of fresh toppings for a delicious and nutritious meal.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas.
Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry
This 20-minute stir fry makes a great weeknight dinner. The sweet and savory chunks of chicken taste just as good as the dish from your local Chinese restaurant. Serve it over rice or with stir-fried veggies for a take-out fake-out dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry.
Chicken Fajita Quesadilla
Made from simple ingredients, this quesadilla fajita is incredibly flavorful and has everything you need in a meal: protein, produce, carbs, and flavor. It’s a great weeknight meal option too since you can have it on the table in 30 minutes. Serve with fresh toppings or black beans on the side.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fajita Quesadilla.
Ground Pork Stir Fry
Stir fry dinners always makes a great busy night meal option. This recipe starts with ground pork and adds mushrooms, spinach and the yummiest peanut butter sauce for a filling meal that is flavorful and comes together fast for a great family-style meal.
Get the Recipe: Ground Pork Stir Fry.
Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli
This one is a crowd-pleaser and a family favorite! Orecchiette pasta is tossed with tender broccoli and hearty chunks of sausage to make a meal that looks as good as it tastes. You might even have everything you need to make this orecchiette pasta dish in your kitchen already, it’s made with just five simple ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli.
Breakfast Sliders
Breakfast for dinner has never tasted so good! These sliders are layered with ham, cheese a tangy, tasty sauce, and soft, warm buns. Serve with fresh fruit on the side.
Get the Recipe: Breakfast Sliders.
